This press release is a summary of the facts known at this time. This is an active investigation. The information provided in this press release is preliminary and subject to change. Additional details will be released as they become available.

On Sunday, April 28, 2019, at approximately 2:56 p.m., officers from the Sacramento Police Department responded to the area of 20th Street / L Street regarding a suicidal subject armed with a gun.

Our Sacramento Police Department Communication Center received a call from a male subject who stated that he had a gun and he was going to kill himself. An employee from a nearby business also called to report that a subject armed with a gun had just left their location. Shortly thereafter, our Communication Center received additional calls from people in the area who stated that there was an armed subject shooting a firearm into the air.

Officers immediately responded to the area. As initial officers arrived on scene, the subject was in the middle of the roadway. The subject discarded a firearm and laid down on the street. After additional officers arrived on scene, they approached the subject to safely detain him. This subject complied with all commands and was detained without incident.   

In the area where the subject was detained, officers recovered a firearm magazine containing 9 bullets. The officers also recovered a firearm in the same area. The firearm (see attached photo) was determined to be a .40 caliber Glock handgun with a 15-round capacity magazine. There were 11 bullets in the magazine and there was also one bullet in the chamber of the firearm.   

Responding officers conducted follow-up investigation and determined the subject fired the gun multiple times in the air. During a canvas of the area, officers located two spent bullet casings. Fortunately, nobody was injured during this shooting. This subject, a 29-year-old male adult, was arrested for multiple charges related to this shooting incident.

Today SPD will release video and audio material related to this incident. All video and audio that will be released has been redacted to ensure the confidentiality and privacy of those involved. The faces have been blurred and audio redactions are signified by muted audio with no accompanying sound.  

Included in this video release is an 11-minute video that provides details of the incident. Click here to view this video. 

The material also consists of three body-worn camera videos and four audio files. The remainder of the material in today’s release is available through this link.

The release of this material is done at the discretion of the Chief of Police to inform our community on the complex, difficult and dangerous job of our police officers and dispatchers. Moreover, it highlights the difficulties that can be associated with responding to people in crisis in our community This incident does not fall under the City Council policy on Police Use of Force.

Since the date of this incident, during a 10-day period, our police department has seized at least 25 firearms. Additionally, our officers have responded to at least 344 calls for service that have been mental health related. Our police department has made a commitment to respond to these type of calls to ensure a safe and compassionate response for our community.